One of the obvious observations from the USMNT’s 4-1 collapse to Belgium in the World Cup Round of 16 was the talent gap between the US and a Top 10 side. Not only did the top FIFA teams display more elite talent, but they also carried depth off the bench. Following the last World Cup held on US soil, Major League Soccer – the top professional league in the United States – was founded. Since that time, MLS teams began to identify and develop homegrown talent through club teams. There are currently 30 teams that operate their own youth academies. Expect this trend to continue going forward as US Soccer looks to fill the talent gap.
Eight members of the current USMNT came from college rosters. Will that be the case in the future?
Earlier this year, MLS announced a new emphasis on a player development pathway across North America with the expansion of the MLS NEXT Academy, which will broaden soccer participation, training, and development. The expansion will span 40 states while adding 318 clubs and over 53,000 players ranging from youth (U13) through their MLS professional divisions.
Clubs will compete in regular season matches, regional tournaments, and MLS NEXT national events, while also benefiting from coaching education programs, talent identification initiatives, and high-performance development opportunities. The hope is that these efforts will feed the MLS, MLS NEXT, along with professional clubs, and national teams.
While MLS NEXT initiatives may provide players to the collegiate ranks, it is clear that there is a new pathway for elite soccer players and coaches in the U.S. Ultimately, this begs the question of whether there will be enough quality players and coaches to go around or if the talent pool will be further diluted for college soccer. Even more concerning is the possibility that, like basketball, collegiate soccer becomes a feeder system that develops players who leave for MLS NEXT or the development MLS Academy teams for their playing path.
Clearly, once US Soccer selects a new Sports Director, ‘talent development and acquisition’ will continue to be a priority for MLS and US Soccer. The result could leave collegiate teams with a dearth of talented players and a watered-down product.
The humiliating 4-1 World Cup defeat in Seattle put the U.S.’s lack of talent and depth on full display. The resulting actions may draw top talent, players, and coaches away from the collegiate route. The changing of the collegiate schedule to a split Fall-Spring season in 2027 is an attempt to make collegiate soccer a better developmental option for players with professional ambitions. Now, that may not be a preferred choice for soccer players, resulting in diluted collegiate rosters and staffs. Time will tell. However, there is little doubt that there is a limited pool of high-end players available in the United States to stock for the various options available for high-end soccer players.
College soccer has very little to do with elite soccer player development in the United States. Unlike other many other sports, soccer does not require full adult bodies to be effective players — so the very best players typically turn pro as teenagers by age 17 and develop in overseas academies, skipping college soccer altogether. The major USA stars all played in Europe as teens…
Only one starting field player on Team USA this year (Tim Ream) played college soccer (St. Louis U). The other 7 guys on the US roster who played college ball were either goalies or reserve players. Even when college goes to a long schedule, the very top guys are still going to skip college.
College soccer will be a place for a few late bloomers, but far more college players are headed for further success in the boardroom than on the pitch.
Further, Team USA made the final 16 teams in the World Cup, and it’s current FIFA ranking of #17 reflects that the USA is already the 92nd percentile (top 8%) of the 211 FIFA countries who have national teams in the sport, suggesting there is good talent in the program. While American fans want to see the US win the World Cup, the gap between a top 20 team and a top 10 one is still a big hill to climb. Much of that hill is attributable to superstar players on the top 10 teams that the USA hasn’t yet developed. Our very best players are playing on good European teams, but the US has not yet developed a game-breaker superstar player yet.
Reality— Soccer is not a sport that attracts our top talented kids. Football, Basketball, baseball, do. That’s it. period.
Stop chasing a myth. Face reality Let the top talented developing youngsters do their choosing.